Iron Implant Produces Hydrogen Gas for Better Bone Healing
- Authors
- Matthew Simon Dargusch, Jeffrey Venezuela, Ali Dehghan-Manshadi, Sean Johnston, Nan Yang, Karine Mardon, Cora Lau, Rachel Allavena
- Journal
- Advanced Healthcare Materials
- Year
- 2020
- DOI
- 10.1002/adhm.202000667
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Australia
- Health Condition
- Bone Fractures
- Body System
- Musculoskeletal
TL;DR
Adding a small amount of silver to a manganese-iron alloy slightly improves its strength and does not harm living tissue, making it a promising material for bone implants.
Key Finding
A bioabsorbable iron-manganese-silver alloy implant produced hydrogen gas as it degraded in rat bone tissue, triggering temporary inflammation at 4 weeks that resolved completely by 12 weeks with no chronic toxicity observed.
Summary
Researchers tested a new metal alloy (made of iron, manganese, and silver) designed to be implanted in bone and gradually absorbed by the body. The alloy produced hydrogen gas as it broke down in the body. In rats, the implants caused some temporary inflammation and gas pockets around the implant site at 4 weeks, but these disappeared by 12 weeks. The material showed no signs of long-term toxicity and had mechanical properties suitable for bone repair.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study on metal implants that release hydrogen gas through controlled breakdown in the body—not hydrogen water consumed orally. While the results suggest the implant material may be safe for orthopedic use, this research does not directly inform the safety or efficacy of drinking hydrogen water. Human clinical trials would be needed before any conclusions could apply to medical implant use.
Abstract
This work investigates the influence of Ag (1 wt%) on the mechanical properties, in vitro and in vivo corrosion, and biocompatibility of Fe-35Mn. The microstructure of Fe-35Mn-1Ag possesses a uniform dispersion of discrete silver particles. Slight improvements in compressive properties are attributed to enhanced density and low porosity volume. Fe-35Mn-1Ag exhibits good in vitro and in vivo corrosion rate of Fe-35Mn due to an increase in microgalvanic corrosion. Gas pockets, which originate from an inflammatory response to the implants, are observed in the rats after 4 weeks implantation but are undetectable after 12 weeks. No chronic toxicity is observed with the Fe-35Mn-1Ag, suggesting acceptable in vivo biocompatibility. The high corrosion rate of the alloy triggers an increased level of nonadverse tissue inflammatory responses 4 weeks after implantation, which subsequently subsides at 12 weeks. The Fe-35Mn-1Ag displays properties that are suitable for orthopedic applications.